Generator Parts Key Terms

You'll get a charge out of these generator parts key terms

By Christine Foley

Whether you have purchased a generator or are part of a business which produces generators, knowing generator parts key terms can be extremely beneficial. Individuals who purchase generators may not believe they need to understand parts terminology but if something goes wrong with the generator, it can be helpful knowledge. In addition, it is often much cheaper to replace a part than an entire generator. For those who create generators and those who are interested in the industry, an education in generator parts key terms is vital to their success.

Fuel regulator

A generator's fuel regulator is also called its lockoff solenoid. This part controls the flow of fuel to the home standby engine of the generator.
Try: Pictures and illustrations of fuel regulators can be located at AllensElectric.com. Some types of fuel can clog fuel regulators, as discussed on RV-Coach.com.

Cranking battery

The cranking battery supplies power to the generator's start engine. At the same time, it works to keep the control panel active.
Try: Cranking battery failure as the most common cause of generator failure is discussed at StandByPowerSolutions.com.

Ground fault circuit interrupter

The ground fault circuit interrupter (or GFCI) prevents electrical shocks which would otherwise be severe or fatal by monitoring the current flow of a circuit. If the current flowing through the circuit is different from that which is returning, the GFCI will switch off the power going to that circuit.
Try: The ground fault circuit interrupter is discussed in detail at OSHA.gov.

Windings

Windings is the term used to describe all of the coils of a generator. There are two main types of windings -- stator windings and rotor windings. While stator windings are made up of stator coils and their interconnections, rotor windings are comprised of all of the windings and connections of the rotor poles in a generator.
Try: Additional information about generator windings can be found at HomePower.com, as well as SciAm.com.

Rotor

The rotor is the rotating element contained in the motor of a generator.
Try: Generator rotors are defined at TPub.com. Meanwhile, at eBookSquad.com, generator rotor thermal sensitivity and its effects on the rotor are discussed.

Vibration isolators

Vibration isolators are rubber pads that are mounted inside generators. They are placed between the engine and the generator's frame and minimize the vibrations produced when the engine runs.
Try: Examples of vibration isolators and relevant information is displayed at Power-Technology.com. For information on mounting vibration isolators, visit DEIcon.com.